Lawmakers pledge funding for PSS

The House of Representatives recently indicated its support for the Teacher Quality Enhancement Program, pledging to match the federal government’s share of the assistance program intended to improve the quality of teaching.

PSS had applied for a grant through the U.S. Department of Education but is required to match funds provided by the federal government.

In House Joint Resolution 14-29, lawmakers explained that the program requires a matching fund of $1.5 million per year for the next three years to match the federal government’s $4 million.

The project comprises four components, including mentoring of new teachers by master teachers; infusing technology into teaching and student learning; performance-based compensation that is directly linked to high student achievement; and high quality professional development opportunities for new and veteran teachers that are designed to improve the quality of teaching.

“Improving the quality of teaching, and thus student learning, directly supports the goal…of making the CNMI the best-educated population in the Pacific,” the resolution read.